October 2018

MOM’S PERSPECTIVE
A 5K and a stroller
by Cheryl Pangborn
One of my accomplishments here
in Georgia has been to step up
my running game. I was an intermittent
treadmill runner in Florida. However,
with the great weather, I started to take
advantage of the beautiful park nearby
that has a three-mile trail. My first run
there was a little scary. The trail starts
off on a paved path but suddenly, it
dumps you into a rocky, dirt trail. I was
cautious about running this on my
maiden voyage because I didn’t know if
it would circle around to the beginning
or if I’d get lost in an unfamiliar forest.
Fortunately, a spirited couple came up
behind me and assured me the trail
would circle back.
I actually fell in love with outdoor
running at that moment. Not that I am
so excited about exercise. If someone
told me tomorrow I could stop running,
eat unlimited grilled cheese sandwiches
every day, and not gain an ounce, I’d
say sign me up. I’m not a fan of being
sweaty, sticky, or ugly. Working out is
something I have to do to stay in shape,
and it’s good for me.
Proudly I ran in my first official 5K this
year. A 5K is a three-mile run, which I
do several times a week but this made
me feel upgraded, like a professional
of sorts. I got my special T-shirt with
an official number pinned to it. I don’t
usually stretch and prepare for a run
but I did on my 5K day, because I
wanted to look the part, plus some of
the participants were running a 10K so
they seemed really serious. Until that
day, I always ran alone at my own pace
without any pressure. Seriously, I could
have been the turtle of all runners but
it really didn’t matter. Lining up with
this group was a little intimidating but it
didn’t compare to that moment when
they took off.
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I found it very hard to pace myself
when people were blowing by me.
My pace was always based on
whatever didn’t kill me. Somehow
being left behind makes you want
to push yourself, except I’m not
a seasoned runner who has the
stamina to shave ten minutes off
her time. Heck, I didn’t even know
what my time was. While running is
physical, it’s also mental and I was
not getting in the “zone” because
I was paying attention to everyone
else. My worst moment was when a
lady with a baby in a jogging stroller
passed me. My mental game was
shot at that point because even she
was running faster than me. I was
silently coaching myself: “Ignore the
stroller, just find your pace Cheryl.”
I wound up pacing and finishing
with another lady who was passed
by the stroller, too. I felt like we were
kindred spirits. When I crossed the
finish line, everyone started saying
“Great job Cheryl.” It didn’t matter
that they didn’t know me or how
petty I was about the stroller lady,
I just was glad I made it and I
wasn’t last.
It was a great experience and
now I get requests to sign up
for every race in town, but my
no pressure, slowpoke, solo
runs suit me just fine. I’m
improving and, although
I look atrocious, I’m
increasing my distance with
every run. The bright side
is that my kids are grown
so I don’t have to run with
a baby stroller. P
OCTOBER 2018